believed them at the time.
Wen Chunhui was now filled with regret and remorse. Thinking about the situation, every hair on her back stood on end.
The ability of the Fantian Sect to destroy major sects was even more terrifying than the demonic forces like Crimson Gate sect, completely taking over without anyone noticing. The most chilling thing is what was their ultimate goal with this action?
At this time, the major sects had inexplicably closed their doors and forbidden people from freely going up and down the mountains. Countless carts carrying black stones were being transported up the mountains, but what exactly was on those carts remained a mystery for the time being.
At the same time, Wei Jiu, who was now alone, also arrived at Xishan.
The once mighty Demon Lord hadn't expected to come to Xishan seeking help from that person with the surname Su. So when he arrived at the foot of the mountain, he didn't go up directly but wandered around instead.
In the end, he actually managed to sneak in with the crowd attending the wedding of Yu Tong.
On that day, with the marriage of Yu Tong, there were many relatives from the groom's village, and everyone was in high spirits. Wei Jiu concealed his aura and specifically changed into women's clothing. He already looked androgynous, except for being taller, he really looked like a handsome woman.
Then, taking advantage of the distraction, he slowly approached Ranran who was counting dowries under the corridor of the new house, and held a dagger against her waist.
"Little girl, don't move, even though you've improved a lot, with my dagger so close, killing you wouldn't take much effort." he deliberately whispered close to Ranran's ear.
Although Ranran was being threatened and the situation was dire, when she saw Wei Jiu dressed as a woman, she couldn't help but burst out laughing, with her shoulders shaking.
Because only female relatives were allowed inside the new house, Wei Jiu had knocked out a matchmaker and changed into her clothes in order to sneak in.
He had just let his hair down and twisted a braid randomly, and had not applied makeup like the other village women. Was it really necessary for her to laugh so uncontrollably?
But before Wei Jiu could reprimand her, his wrist was firmly clasped by an iron palm, and he was lifted and pressed down to the ground.
Su Yi Shui appeared behind him at some point, flipping him over and stepping on Wei Jiu with one foot.
Wei Jiu seemed to have difficulty summoning his true vitality, so he could only struggle and curse frantically.
Even though Su Yi Shui hadn't regained his memory, he was fed up with Wei Jiu, especially after seeing how close Wei Jiu had gotten to Ranran earlier, not knowing if he had offended her ear with his words.
Thinking about this, Su Yi Shui didn't hold back and started punching Wei Jiu without restraint, determined to teach him a lesson.
Just then, the happy couple rushed in amidst the crowd of friends and family.
The originally merry villagers were stunned into silence when they saw the renowned divine healer Su Yi Shui sitting on the back of a "woman" with disheveled hair.
Ranran quickly stepped in front of the two men who were stacked together, laughing and saying, "*Just making trouble in the bridal chamber!"
*闹洞房 is a wedding tradition
After speaking, she turned around and signaled to Su Yi Shui.
Today was a joyous day for Yu Tong, so nothing should go wrong. Even if he wanted to teach Wei Jiu a lesson, it had to be done elsewhere.
So, everyone saw Su Yi Shui hoisting up the woman with long hair. In the blink of an eye, they had disappeared over the wall.
Ranran awkwardly tried to lighten the mood, saying, "Come on, the groom, should also carry the bride into the bridal chamber!"
With the cheers of Xishan disciples, they finally managed to resolve the situation.
As for Wei Jiu, who was carried away by Su Yi Shui, he seemed to manage to collect his breath. When he was thrown into the grassy area, he immediately cursed loudly and started grappling with Su Yi Shui.
Ranran stood by, munching on pumpkin seeds and watching the fight. It was clear that Su Yi Shui had the upper hand, landing punches with no resistance from Wei Jiu.
Wei Jiu, was already weakened by the giant python's poison, with his vitality weakening steadily. As they fought, he realized that tortoise's son Su Yi Shui was once again trying to absorb the little true vitality he had left.
Infuriated, he cursed, "Su Yi Shui, are you even human? My dantian is so empty, I could raise fish in it! And you still want to absorb my true vitality! Why don't you just stop people on the road and go rob the major sects directly! If you kill me, you won't know the current situation of the major sects!"
This last sentence finally had some effect, and Su Yi Shui finally stopped beating him up.
If Wei Jiu had any other way out, he wouldn't have come to Xishan to disgrace himself.
He had originally planned to go to the capital to seek help from Su Yu.
After all, they had always cooperated well, and Wei Jiu was on the verge of becoming the Imperial Advisor of Daqi.
But that damned Su Yu, only used people when it suited him, and he would deny knowing them if things went south.
Especially after hearing that Wei Jiu had been contaminated with the blue blood of the nine-headed snake, Su Yu didn't even let him into the palace. At noon, he only sent an old eunuch who had previously relayed messages for the emperor, to send a few comforting words to Wei Jiu from a distance.
The gist of it was that the emperor was deeply concerned about the disaster at Crimson Gate Sect and worried for Wei Jiu's safety. His Majesty believed in Wei Jiu's abilities and that he was sure to overcome this calamity. He assured him that if he needed money, even if the national treasury was depleted due to war, the emperor would do his best to provide some silver.
While the words sounded comforting, apart from silver, Su Yu offered no other help. It seemed like he was content to watch the Fan tian Sect crush the major sects, including Crimson Gate sect.
Ranran knew the emperor's cunning nature well. The latter half of the Fantian Sect Records had been in Su Yu's hands for a long time, and she believed he has memorized it well. That's why he had Wei Jiu stand in front of the palace gate at noon to identify the real and fake through shadows. Seeing how he could rear a dragon in the palace for so many years, he was far more astute than Wei Jiu.
In short, the emperor was now acting very cautiously, unwilling to wade into this mess and especially unwilling to openly oppose the Fantian Sect.
Because the palace's foundations had been repaired, the protective shield's abilities had also been restored. Wei Jiu couldn't barge into the palace to strangle the ingrate Su Yu, so he could only stand in front of the palace gate, stomping and cursing.
Later, he tried to return to Crimson Gate sect to find Tu Jiuyuan. However, just like the major sects, Red Flame Mountain had also closed its doors. There were no signs of the disciples coming down the mountain.
And those stones that were transported up the mountain were quickly piled into towers on Red Flame Mountain, towering into the clouds. But what has unnerved Wei Jiu the most was the loss of his true vitality.
Since the impostor hadn't managed to kill him on the spot and had taken over completely, they used another method, turning into nightmares and draining his spiritual power whenever he fell asleep.
Although Wei Jiu was highly skilled, he was still in a mortal body. Even if he could go days without eating or drinking, occasionally he would meditate and fall asleep.
But now, every time he fell asleep, he would see someone who looked exactly like him choking him, constantly absorbing his energy.
After brief naps, instead of feeling refreshed, he felt a loss of energy.
Wei Jiu did not dare sleep along the way, his eyes were red like ripe cherries, as if they were about to bleed. Forced into this situation, he had no choice but to come to Xishan for help from Su Yi Shui and Xue Ranran.
To get two archenemies to help, Wei Jiu also offered some bargaining chips. He only said that he had a way to lead them back into Red Flame Mountain and investigate the truth behind the spirit tower.
After assuring Su Yi Shui with words and reaching a temporary ceasefire and cooperation agreement, Wei Jiu finally collapsed on the grass, wiping the blood from his mouth. He then closed his eyes, saying, "I just don't understand why all the major sects suffered, but Xishan was spared from this disaster?"
Hearing this, Ranran slowly put down the pumpkin seeds in her hand. Wei Jiu's question was quite intriguing, and actually Ranran herself couldn't figure it out either.
Could it be that for the people of the Fantian Sect, Xishan was just an insignificant pawn, so they bypassed it?
Wei Jiu then took out a black stone from his pocket and said, "This is the stone they transported up the mountain. I managed to steal one with difficulty. See if you can find anything unusual about it?"
Su Yi Shui weighed the stone, feeling no weight in his hand. When he held it up to the sunlight, the black stone seemed to have a faint gloss.
But according to Wei Jiu's words, about those stones transported up the mountain seeming to be stacked into towers, and after Red Flame Mountain suddenly appeared with a towering high tower overnight, he immediately remembered a similar record in the "Fantian Sect Records" It was said that during the time Nuwa mended the sky, she used five-colored stones, among which the black stone was light as a feather, connecting the energies of Yin and Yang. If used to build high towers, they could then reach the heavens and connect with the underworld.
Could it be that the towering high tower they were constructing on Red Flame Mountain was the same as the spirit tower described in the Chronicles, capable of connecting the energies of Yin and Yang?
What were they building these spirit towers for?
Just then, Wang Suizhi's shopkeepers near the three major sects all sent back messages via carrier pigeons, saying they had sent people to look, and alongside the closure of the mountains by the major sects, there were also many vehicles transporting stones. Each major sect's mountain peak had towering spirit towers built on them, visible from afar even without entering the mountains.
Every sect that cultivated immortality chose their cultivation grounds not on a whim but based on their own Five Elements to select a place beneficial to their cultivation.
So regardless of the current rise and falls of the major sects, their cultivation grounds were extremely rich in spiritual energy.
And now, with these impostors taking over the leadership of the major sects and beginning large-scale construction in various cultivation grounds, building black spirit towers, whatever these spirit towers were intended for, their effectiveness would surely be greatly enhanced.
But Wei Jiu couldn't care about this now. All he wanted was to get a good sleep without having to worry about anything.
This method of stealing spiritual energy in dreams was nothing more than using similar magnetic fields to remotely absorb spiritual power when the victims were exhausted. If there were stronger magnetic fields interfering with the victim's surroundings, the attempt would fail.
So Wei Jiu could only find peace in sleep by finding someone with similar or even stronger spiritual power to protect him.
And the only candidates now, were Xue Ranran and Su Yi Shui.
According to Wei Jiu's suggestion, he hoped Xue Ranran would guard and protect him—having a gentle and sweet girl by his side, even if he died in his dreams, he would be a romantic and handsome ghost under the flowers.
Unfortunately, with just one cold look from Su Yi Shui, accompanied by the cracking sound of his knuckles, Wei Jiu's whimsical thoughts were cut off.
Although Wei Jiu was down on his luck, he was still quite particular. Despite his extreme desire for sleep, he refused to compromise on his principles, and Su Yi Shui also didn't trust leaving this scoundrel alone, allowed to roam Xishan.
In the end, the most refreshing sleep Wei Jiu had experienced since cultivating immortality was on Su Yi Shui's bed. Smelling the faint sandalwood scent on his archenemy beside him, Wei Jiu slept with limbs relaxed, feeling extremely refreshed.
However, when two big men who were enemies to the death were left alone, the atmosphere would always be a little strange.
Ranran knew that the Fantian Sect's intentions were unclear at the moment and they still needed Wei Jiu's help, so she was also afraid that Wei Jiu's sharp tongue might anger Su Yi Shui and lead to his demise at Su Yi Shui's hands.
So the next morning, as soon as she woke up, Ranran carried a basin of hot water for washing and went to Su Yi Shui's room.
Su Yi Shui was meditating by the bed, with his brows furrowed and eyes closed in concentration. Wei Jiu was sprawled out like a large baby.
So Ranran brought a chair and sat opposite her master, also entering a meditative state, passing the time and waiting quietly for the two to wake.
The force of invasion that Wei Jiu had mentioned about entering dreams seemed to have hidden itself this time. The night passed peacefully without any strange disturbances.
By mid-morning, Wei Jiu finally woke up refreshed. As he opened his eyes and glanced past Su Yi Shui beside him, he directly looked at Xue Ranran sitting opposite him with her eyes closed in meditation.
Upon seeing her like this, he couldn't help but become entranced. The charm between her brows and eyes seemed to carry the air of her previous life, an air of carefree confidence rarely seen in women's eyes. If only she would wear red clothes like she did in her past life…
Before Wei Jiu could indulge further in his thoughts with narrowed eyes, a tall figure had stood up, completely blocking his view.
Su Yi Shui lowered his head, appearing concerned as he asked, "Did you sleep well?"
He was too close, making Wei Jiu nauseous, so he leaned back and raised his eyebrows, saying, "Thanks to Brother Su for watching over me all night."
Only now did Su Yi Shui slowly stand up straight, his words suddenly cold, "Then I'll trouble you to take away and dispose of the bedsheets and blankets from under you, I like cleanliness and can't stand the smell of sweat."
Wei Jiu felt Su Yi Shui was looking for trouble. He had clearly bathed before bed, so he was very clean!
He had been living in luxury on Red Flame Mountain for many years, always the one who sets the rules, even in front of Emperor Su Yu, he wouldn't hesitate to speak his mind.
But now, under the eaves of Xishan, he couldn't even sleep without Su Yi Shui, so even if he was provoked like this, he could only grit his teeth, smirk maliciously, violently pull off the bedsheets and blankets, then leave the bedroom in large strides.
After Wei Jiu left, Ran Ran said in a small voice, "Actually, you could have let him sleep in the guest room… This set of bedding is very good, why throw it away?"
Su Yi Shui glanced at her but remained silent.
This turtle son, Wei Jiu, had many demands when it came to sleeping. He needed a luxurious bed and wouldn't settle for the practice room.
And the guest room was only separated by a wall from the disciples' quarters. He didn't want this shameless scoundrel to be too close to Ranran's bedroom, so he let Wei Jiu sleep in his own room.
Who would have thought that Ranran would come over early in the morning and sit so close, allowing the shameless scoundrel to take several glances at her for no reason.
"The storage room still has new bedding, right? I'll have someone bring another set."
Ranran was thinking, that the covers was personally sewn by her, and the pattern of the bamboo was also chosen by Su Yi Shui from the patterns she brought.
But now he had forgotten about all that, so he just thought it was just an ordinary set of bedding.
Ranran didn't bother with these trivial matters anymore, just remained silent for a moment before saying, "I couldn't sleep well last night, I kept thinking about the black spirit tower. So I brought the map and after looking at it, I found some suspicious places."
Saying this, she took out the map she had drawn overnight, marked the locations of the three major sects and Red Flame Mountain. She then connected these four points, revealing that Xishan was surrounded by them.
"I asked Wen Chunhui, and she said that someone from the government came to Kongshan Sect for help, claiming that they found a nine-headed python on Yao Mountain. However, when they arrived there, they found representatives from all major sects, all claiming to have been called by the government. However, the local government officials do not know who actually sent the message. Wei Jiu, on the other hand, said that the Emperor wrote a letter instructing him to subdue the nine-headed python. But when he asked the eunuch at the palace gate, the old eunuch said that His Majesty had never sent such a letter. It's strange that for just one snake, different people are seeking help from the three major sects and Crimson Gate sect…"
Su Yi Shui spoke in a low voice, "So it means someone intentionally wanted these people to gather at Yao Mountain, to be trapped by the nine-headed monster."
Thinking about this, both of them exclaimed in unison, "Why hasn't that person behind the scenes sent a message to Xishan?"
In terms of current renown, Xishan was no less powerful than the three major sects and Crimson Gate, even vaguely showing signs of surpassing them.
However, the people from the Fantian Sect deliberately avoided Xishan. Why? Did they dislike Xishan's feng shui, thinking it wasn't worthy of building a spirit tower?
Or… were they actually targeting Xishan, which was being surrounded?
Xue Ranran took a deep breath again and said in a low voice, "You probably don't remember the person who disguised himself as the Medicine immortal on Tianmai Mountain. He later appeared as a shepherd near the Netherworld realm flower sea, and also as the innkeeper at the foot of Red Flame Mountain. But every time he appeared, it didn't seem like he had any malicious intent towards you and me… instead, he repeatedly reminded us to be careful, as if afraid that we would encounter danger… Is he really from the Fantian Sect, and what role is he playing in this series of events?"
Su Yi Shui remained silent. He had never felt inconvenienced by losing a memory before. But now, Ranran's words made him furrow his brows, feeling somewhat dejected for not remembering such an important matter.
Of course, this dejection rose to the extreme during breakfast time.
After the new disciples of Xishan had gone, there weren't many people left in the dining hall.
Someone like Wei Jiu, wouldn't normally be allowed into the dining hall. However, the unsuspecting couple, Qiao Lian and her husband, took him for a guest of Xishan and warmly welcomed him into the dining hall.
Although the others were well aware, they didn't correct them, lest the couple feel embarassed. So Wei Jiu arrogantly took a seat at the dining table.
Because Yutong had married and moved down the mountain, breakfast was prepared by Ranran and her mother.
When Ranran and Su Yi Shui finally arrived at the dining hall, Wei Jiu was already eating meat buns made by Ranran, praising with a sweet mouth, "Auntie, both of your cooking skills are just as good as the Nine Flavors Hall in the capital!"
Su Yi Shui narrowed his eyes, stood beside Wei Jiu, and said coldly, "You're sitting in my seat."
Wei Jiu lazily gave up the main seat, but as he turned around, he sat in the seat just vacated by Qiu Xier who went to get more rice.
This seat was good, right next to Ranran. He smiled and said, "The dried sweet potatoes you personally gave me before were delicious, but I didn't expect everything else you make to be even tastier."
Upon hearing this, Su Yi Shui's icy daggers shot right over, not at Wei Jiu but at Xue Ranran.
Wasn't she supposed to be at odds with Wei Jiu? When did she share snacks with him?
Xue Ranran felt that Wei Jiu was stirring up trouble. During the trial on Tianmai Mountain, were the dried sweet potatoes she gave, dragon meat? Was it worth Wei Jiu mentioning it from time to time?
If she had known earlier that the boy Gui Baqian was Wei Jiu in disguise, she would have fed him bird droppings!
But now that Su Yi Shui had forgotten, the yellow dried sweet potatoes had practically become evidence of infidelity.
Qiao Lian and the carpenter also noticed something was wrong and looked at each other with uncertainty, fearing that their daughter would have some entanglement with this guy who seemed a bit feminine.
She had just agreed to the marriage proposal with Master Su and couldn't afford any scandals.
Just at this time, Qiu Xier returned with the rice just then and found her seat taken by Wei Jiu. She immediately became annoyed, "Hey, can't you have some etiquette as a guest? Don't act without manners everywhere. Early in the morning, I saw you throw away the quilt that was personally sewn by Ranran for our Shifu, it's really outrageous! That quilt was made by Ranran for a month, and now you're taking my seat… it's really annoying…"
Qiu Xier's voice trailed off as she spoke, because on the dining table, Su Yi Shui and Wei Jiu, the big bosses, one good and one evil, were both staring straight at her.
Wei Jiu stared at Qiu Xier because of her disrespectful words.
But Su Yi Shui's gaze carried surprise and indescribable embarrassment.